20 h. ago Huge crowds descended on Imperial Pub's last call after over 80 years in Toronto

Masses came out to support a Toronto pub on its final weekend in business after 81 years serving up thirsty patrons.It has been a year of heartbreaking restaurant and bar closures in Toronto, but few losses resonated with the public quite like the news that the Imperial Pub's taps would run dry after generations at Dundas St. E. and Victoria in downtown Toronto.Last call for the Imperial finally arrived this past weekend, and throngs of the pub's loyal patrons flooded the bar to celebrate its longevity and get one last pint in before the doors closed for good at the end of a raucous Saturday night.Damn... pic.twitter.com/ZlKG1E8ZWI— Karon Liu (@karonliu) November 14, 2025Long lines snaked around the block.If you're planning to say goodbye to the Imperial Pub today, we suggest going early, these were the scenes last night. pic.twitter.com/bSXQcAjExe— West End Phoenix (@westendphoenix) November 15, 2025The bar and surrounding businesses are destined to be demol...

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36 h. ago Raptors could move close to top of East with easy schedule looming

Toronto just won 4-of-5 on the road for the first time in ages and could have won them all, losing only a close one in Philadelphia.

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4 d. ago MLS changes its calendar schedule for season to run July through May

The new schedule will include a winter break from mid-December through to the beginning or middle of February, with no games being played in January, and another break in part of June and July

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4 d. ago Manulife to enter India insurance market as part of diversification refocus

TORONTO — Manulife Financial Corp. is looking both further afield and closer to home as it charts a refreshed course for the years ahead. The insurance giant says it plans to enter the insurance market in India to capitalize on rapid growth in one of the world’s largest economies, while at the same time it […]

Economics

4 d. ago Staple Toronto restaurant closes permanently after over 25 years

A Toronto restaurant that has been a neighbourhood staple for the past 25 years has officially closed for good.There was a time when Little Portugal, the strips of Dundas West and College between Dovercourt and Lansdowne, was, more or less, the only place in the city where you could find great Portuguese food.That was decades ago, mind you, and, in the years since, Portuguese cuisine, much like every other global influence in the city, has outgrown the bounds of its historic enclave and planted roots in nearly every neighbourhood. Now, you don't have to look farther than a few blocks in any given corner of the city to sink your teeth into simmering fish stews or salty sardines; the city is rife with stalwart institutions that do Portuguese cuisine proud.In the case of the Junction Triangle, one such staple, since 1998 anyway, has been Piri Piri Grill.Fittingly named for Portugal's most ubiquitous culinary export, piri piri chicken, the restaurant has been a le...

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5 d. ago A Toronto neighbourhood's most iconic restaurant may be gone for good

A Toronto restaurant that defined its neighbourhood may have closed its doors permanently after being kicked out by its landlord.Kensington Market is known for a lot of things: thrifting, colourful community atmosphere, tacos, to name only a few. But, for me and plenty of others, at least, it's always been the scent of jerk chicken getting charred on an outdoor grill drifting up and down Kensington Avenue, embedding itself into my hair and clothes on sticky summer days.The source of the aroma? None other than Rasta Pasta, a stalwart on the strip for over a decade, beloved for its dual concept serving an affordable menu of Caribbean classics, traditional Italian pastas and, best of all, fusion dishes that blend the two.There's nary a soul that has visited Kensington Market and hasn't eaten at Rasta Pasta or, at the very least, been intrigued by its name and enticed by the fragrant air it emits.That's what makes it particularly heartbreaking to deliver t...

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6 d. ago Toronto holiday tradition is officially dead but here are 5 fun replacements

Toronto's iconic holiday windows at Hudson's Bay are officially a thing of the past, but that doesn't mean you can't fill that hole in your holiday to-do list with another fun tradition.The themed window vignettes at the former department store's flagship location at Queen and Yonge were a beloved seasonal tradition, first halted by transit investment.What began as a temporary interruption — Ontario Line construction halted the displays in 2023 — quickly became permanent after the retail giant filed for credit protection and officially closed its Toronto flagship store earlier this year.With these beloved vignettes no longer part of Toronto's festive season, you may be looking for other traditions to fill the gap. Luckily, the city has plenty to offer this time of year.Here are five seasonal attractions to help you move on from the loss of the holiday windows at Hudson's Bay.Holiday at The WellThe Well's Nordic-inspired holiday m...

Society

6 d. ago Divisive Toronto restaurant from celebrity chef closes after under a year

A Toronto restaurant from celebrity chef Matty Matheson that made a huge splash upon opening in late 2024 appears to have already closed.Being a big name on the Toronto restaurant scene is about as sure a golden ticket to city-wide notoriety as any, but, as Matty Matheson's ill-fated Bar Clams is seemingly proving this week, it's not a promise of longevity.It was ambitious to open an East Coast-style diner with a menu that featured items like gravy-smothered open-faced turkey sandwiches, donair and all manner of sea creatures battered and deep-fried, sure, but Matheson has never been the type to blend in.And, ostensibly, he was on to something. Folks flocked to the restaurant the moment it officially opened for business in December 2024, perfectly willing to drop $20 on a relatively meagre serving of fish and chips or a duo of taco-sized donairs (the real Nova Scotian deal comes in the size of your head for under $10). The more folks who visited the restaurant...

Other

7 d. ago Remembrance Day plans in Toronto, including what’s open and closed

Various ceremonies planned across the city, while federal government services and offices will be closed

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7 d. ago Toronto coffee shop permanently closing after landlord refuses to renew lease

A neighbourhood coffee shop in Toronto is gearing up to close its doors next year after its landlord decided not to renew its lease. Coco's Neighbourhood Coffee Shop, a cozy café in Little Italy known for staples like espresso-based drinks, matcha lattes, and apple cider, plus a variety of baked treats, will serve its last customers in January.In a heartbreaking announcement shared on Instagram, the coffee shop's owner, Nicole, revealed that Coco's landlord declined to renew their lease. Although they were reassured that they were perfect tenants, the landlord has decided to hand over the space to his sister, who will open a homeopathy clinic in place of the cafe. Unfortunately, the news came after the coffee shop had invested heavily in the space, including adding a new patio. While Nicole shared that the business has been trying to find a new location, working under a limited budget and a short timeline meant that Coco's was ultimately un...

Other

1 week ago Vladdy shares heartfelt message after Toronto Blue Jays World Series heartbreak

The 2025 Toronto Blue Jays came as close to winning the World Series as you can get without actually winning it. It's a crushing way to lose, which helps explain why players were in tears afterwards. And yet, in the days that have followed, players and their families have been able to contextualize the remarkable run the team went on. On Friday evening, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took to social media to reflect on a season to remember. The Blue Jays' biggest star is focusing on the steps forward he and his teammates took this season. He said this year changed his life. "2025, I knew you would be special when I knew I would be a Blue Jay forever," Guerrero said in an Instagram post. "I don't even know what to say. A year that changed my life. A year that made me appreciate times that didn't make sense. A year I will frame forever."Vladdy entered the playoffs after a so-so regular season by his high stand...

Culture

1 week ago Toronto burger restaurant forced to close to make way for condos

A Toronto burger restaurant that serves some of the city's favourite cheap eats will soon be closing its doors to make way for a construction project.Toronto has no shortage of smash burger joints — that much goes without saying — but for whatever reason (maybe because they're delicious), the city never seems to tire of them.While a few chains have managed to rise to the top of the pack — think Burger Drops, Matty's Patty's, RUDY — there's still always a place for the little guys. Since 2023, Yonge and Dundas' Mayday Burger has been one such independent with a cult following.A self-described "minimalist burger shop," Mayday Burger specializes in no-frills, classic burgers, fries, milkshakes and all manner of other things fried, griddled and delightfully greasy.Unfortunately, it looks like Mayday Burger's tenancy in the heart of downtown Toronto is fated to be a short and sweet one, as the burger shop announ...

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1 week ago Are Blue Jays committed to Jeff Hoffman as closer? Not necessarily

GM Ross Atkins certainly didn’t sound like he was committed to idea when he met with media at season-ending availability

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1 week ago Beleaguered Toronto brewery shuts down for the second time in a year

A downtown Toronto brewery has seemingly closed after a notice of termination appeared on its front door, but this isn't the first time they've been in this situation.Once a go-to spot for gameday beers and bites among friends, King West's Northern Maverick has had quite the rollercoaster year.The sprawling craft brewery with a bottle shop attached first landed in 2017 to much fanfare, both thanks to its enormous 11,000 sq. ft. space and its selection of house-made brews. It was an instant hit.It wasn't until 2024 (save for a little, itty-bitty pandemic in the middle) that things started getting bumpy.Fans of the brewpub were shocked to find that Northern Maverick had seemingly closed down in the latter half of the year, without notice or explanation. The Bathurst and Adelaide brewpub and bottle shop sat empty and dark for months as regulars were forced to assume it was gone for good.Exactly a year ago, you wouldn't have been able to score a table at No...

Sport

2 w. ago Blue Jays were literally inches away from World Series glory in Toronto

So close.The Toronto Blue Jays came agonizingly close to winning the World Series in Game 7 on Saturday night.After giving up a game-tying home run in the top of the ninth inning, the Blue Jays nearly scored a walk-off win in the bottom half of the inning.With the bases loaded and just one out, a Daulton Varsho ground ball nearly scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa from third.The throw from Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas beat Kiner-Falefa home, but catcher Will Smith didn't have hit foot on the plate. The play was so close that it went to a video review.A game of inches... pic.twitter.com/wPYGx2ci0H— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 2, 2025But as Kiner-Falefa slid towards home, Smith got his foot down just in time.The Blue Jays were inches away from being crowned champions.The next batter, Ernie Clement, nearly won it too. He hit a ball to the warning track, causing two Dodgers outfielders to collide before Andy Pages made the incredible catch.OH MY GOODNESS WE ...

Other

2 w. ago Toronto’s waterfront music venue renamed RBC Amphitheatre, will close in 2027 for renos

TORONTO — Live Nation Canada says a planned overhaul of a popular waterfront music spot will increase summer lawn seating and add movable enclosures for winter concerts. The performance space at Ontario Place has also been renamed the RBC Amphitheatre, thanks to a multi-year partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada running to 2038. It […]

Culture

3 w. ago Toronto Blue Jays lose marathon World Series game that ends close to 3 a.m.

The World Series produced an instant classic on Monday night.Or should I say Tuesday morning?The LA Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in Game 3, which took 18 innings to complete. They'll take a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 on Tuesday night.This game lasted six hours and 39 minutes, making it the second-longest game in World Series history.The game ended at 11:50 p.m. PDT Monday night in Los Angeles. That was 2:50 a.m. EDT Tuesday morning for fans watching at Rogers Centre in Toronto.    View this post on Instagram           A post shared by Offside (@offside)The longest World Series game ever came back in 2018 and also took 18 innings to complete. The 2018 game was longer in terms of real time, lasting seven hours and 20 minutes.Canadian Freddie Freeman was the hero for LA, hitting a solo home run off Brendon Little in the bottom of the 18th to send the crowd at Dodger Stadium into a frenzy.FRED...

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3 w. ago Justin Bieber reps Toronto Blue Jays at World Series in L.A.

There were at least three Biebers in attendance for Game 3 of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.In Toronto's dugout, Game 4 starter Shane Bieber watched the two teams face off ahead of his scheduled appearance on Tuesday night.But in the crowd at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Canadian singer Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey were cheering on the Blue Jays.Justin Bieber's reaction to Shohei Ohtani's home run 👎😂 https://t.co/86Urc4RGsc pic.twitter.com/bfpICMEZdg— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2025Bieber also posted a photo from his seats, located in the first row down the first base line.Justin was wearing a No. 57 Blue Jays jersey with "Bieber" on the back. That's actually Shane Bieber's jersey. Is Justin Bieber a big Blue Jays fan?A native of Stratford, Ontario, Bieber has been a longtime supporter of many of Toronto's teams. His closest association is with the Toronto Maple Leafs, having a strong friendsh...

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3 w. ago Toronto supervised consumption site to close after province cuts off funding

Ontario is terminating funding for the Parkdale site as of Nov. 22 in response to concerns about increased crime in the area

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3 w. ago Toronto supervised consumption site will close next month after province cuts off funding

The Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre says the decision is devastating, while the province says the decision is in response to concerns about increased crime.

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